Greenpeace calls for cleaner game consoles

Console makers are being urged to clean up their game by Greenpeace, which says the three main players in the industry are not doing enough to eliminate harmful materials from their machines.

Greenpeace says Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo need to do more to safeguard the planet.

Researchers have spent the last six months deconstructing the Playstation 3, the Xbox 360 and the Wii to find out what kinds of hazardous metals and chemicals they contain.

While the machines comply with existing EU law, they all contained high levels of bromine - a flame retardant which can build up in the environment.

Long-term exposure can lead to impaired learning and memory functions.

Components of the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation3 also contained high levels of a chemical called beryllium, which has been linked to lung cancer when dust and fumes are created through some recycling processes.

Greenpeace says that if consoles were classed as toys, they would be in breach of existing EU legislation and could not be sold on the European market because of laws concerning the use of hazardous chemicals in childcare articles.

The organisation is also worried about the way in which old consoles are disposed of.

It says they are often dumped in recycling yards in the developing world, where the toxic contents harm the environment and the health of workers there.

It wants console makers to introduce return and recycle policies.

Greenpeace argues that existing technology would allow console makers to eliminate harmful toxics and make cleaner machines straight away.

It says all electronic manufacturers should modify their designs and is urging gamers to contact the three companies to encourage them to change their manufacturing processes.